The Opposition parties have vehemently protested against the government's passing of bills in Lok Sabha when a no-confidence motion filed against it was pending. They have also urged the Speaker to seek immediate debate on the motion.
Accusing the government of subverting Parliamentary traditions, Congress leader Manish Tewari, while sharing the rulebook, tweeted: "On 26th July 1966, Mr Satyendra Narayan Sinha, the then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, made a significant statement in the Lok Sabha regarding No-Confidence Motion. I do concede that whenever there is a no-confidence motion, no substantive motion should be brought just to forestall the whole thing."
He added that it was unfortunate that bill after bill was being passed in the Lok Sabha in the din.
"Kaul & Shakhdar Page 772 Practice & Procedure of Parliament is very explicit. When the leave of the house to the moving of a motion of 'No confidence' has been granted, no substantive motion on policy matters is to be brought before the house by the government till the motion of no confidence is not disposed of", his tweet read.
On 26th July, 1966, Mr. Satyendra Narayan Sinha, the then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, made a significant statement in the Lok Sabha regarding No-Confidence Motion: “I do concede that whenever there is a no-confidence motion, no substantive motion should he brought just to… pic.twitter.com/SelAgyoeoR
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) July 28, 2023
After the no-trust motion was accepted, the Centre passed two bills, including Jan Vishwas Bill, 2023, and Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2023, in the last two days.
AAP leader Raghav Chadha too made his protest vocal. "No bill is introduced in Parliament after a no-confidence motion is accepted by the Lok Sabha Speaker, but we are seeing that several bills are introduced and passed in Parliament. I appeal to the Speaker that no legislative business should take place in Lok Sabha now," he told ANI.
However, the Speaker has dismissed these objections, stating that "the time available to the House between leave being granted by the House and moving of the motion of no confidence can be gainfully utilised by the House in debates and discussion."
"The House would agree that it is our constitutional duty to legislate and raise issues of public importance. Rule 198 also does not bar taking up of any legislative or other matters of public importance after leave to moving a motion of no confidence has been granted by the House," he retorted.
